Musharraf resigns ahead of impeachment

Islamabad, Aug 18 (PTI) With impeachment staring at his face, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf resigned on Monday ending a bitter confrontation with the ruling coalition but questions remained whether he was headed for a safe havenelsewhere.

"After reviewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and political allies and on their advice I have decided to resign," a grim-faced President said in anemotional internationally televised address.

Quitting the office he had grabbed in a bloodless military coup almost nine years ago as the ruling coalition prepared to table the impeachment motion against him on Tuesday, Musharraf said he wanted to spare the nation from a battle that would strain the relationship between Presidencyand the government and would not be in the country's interest.

Instant celebrations broke out on the streets of the capital city and elsewhere and the ruling coalition termed theresignation decision as a "victory for democratic forces".

But questions arose immediately about whether Musharraf would remain in the country or go to some safe haven abroad--Saudi Arabia or Turkey. There was no confirmation of reports that he may go to Jeddah, where his detractor and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) chief Nawaz Shariff, whom he had toppled in October 1999 to grab power, had resided under adeal with Saudi Arabia.

Similarly, there was also speculation whether he wasbeing given immunity by the coalition for his actions.

Media reports said there was a special aircraft waiting at a military base near Rawalpindi to fly Musharraf out of thecountry. Musharraf is expected to be given a farewell.

Coalition leaders including P.P.P. co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Sharif, Awami National Party chief Afsandyar Wali Khan and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman metat Zardari's residence to assess the latest situation.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi described the resignation as a "realistic decision (in view of) the way things were unfolding" while Pakistan People's Party chief Bilawal Bhutto said "the biggest hurdle in the way ofdemocracy has been removed".

Quereshi said the coalition leadership would decide on whether to grant a safe exit to Musharraf and immunity to hisactions.

"I am sure they would assess the speech (of Musharraf), the consequences and repercussions and they would also keep in mind the political developments in the country and reach adecision," he said.

P.P.P.'s main ally P.M.L.(N) has been insisting that Musharraf should be held accountable for his actions over the past nine years and is opposed to both safe passage andimmunity.

About who would be the country's next President, Bilawal Bhutto said "I am sure it will be someone from PPP." Information Minister Sherry Rehman said "it is a victory of democratic forces. Today the shadow of dictatorshipthat prevailed for long over this country has been removed".

Maintaining that he wanted to avoid the country being pushed into instability and confrontation, 65-year-old Musharraf said "No impeachment or no chargesheet can stand against me. Nothing can be proved against me. This much confidence I have in me. But I think this is not the time forindividual bravado... this is the time for serious thought.

"In the interest of the country, I have decided to resign. The resignation will reach the National Assembly Speaker shortly." Musharraf's decision brings to an end a bitter confrontation between the presidency and the five-month-old P.P.P.-led coalition government that has been gunning for himsince its victory in the February 18 elections.

With his announcement, all speculation about his putting up a fight in Parliament has ended but still it was not clear whether he would be given any immunity while hestays in Pakistan or a safe passage.

The charges in the impeachment proceedings were to include violating the constitution and gross misconduct including in the ouster of judges and the declaration ofemergency rule.

The ruling coalition, especially P.M.L.(N.) chief Nawaz Sharif who was dethroned by Musharraf in an October 1999 bloodless coup and P.P.P. chief Asif Ali Zardari, had askedhim to quit.

Musharaf's spokesmen had always maintained that he would not quit under pressure and would face the impeachment, a motion regarding which was to be tabled in National Assembly on Tuesday. Musharraf was to be charged with various wrongdoings including violation of Constitution, murder ofdemocracy and economic misconduct.

The P.P.P.-led coalition had finalised a chargesheet in its bid to impeach Musharraf and was planning to submit itin Parliament tomorrow if he did not resign.

In his address, Musharraf asserted that all his decisions during his nine-year rule were in "nationalinterest" as he recounted the "achievements" in all areas.

"Now, they want to impeach me. Are they afraid of my Constitutional powers? Impeachment and chargesheet isParliament's right. To give a reply is my right.

"No chargesheet can stand against me. No charge can be proved against me. I have this much confident in myself because I have not done anything for myself. Whatever I have done, I have done for Pakistan, its people. Whatever thechargesheet I have no fear," Musharraf said.

"But questions arise as to what impact the impeachment will have on the country. Whether the country will descend into further instability and confrontation. Whether the office of Presidency should come under pressure. Should it come under impeachment procedure?" He said whether he won or lost, the country will stand to lose if the impeachment was undertaken. "The dignity of the office of the president will be affected.... The country's dignity will be maintained." Contending that he had dedicated 44 years of his life in the service of the nation as an army man, Musharraf said he was taking the decision to quit to avoid the prolonging of the "atmosphere of uncertainty" and to save Parliament from horsetrading.

"I don't want to put my friends (supporters) in problem. Even if the impeachment is defeated, the relationship between the Presidency and the government will be bitter." He said he could have adopted a different course if he had done anything in self-interest. But he avoided that as impeachment could lead to acrimony between parliament and judiciary and army could be dragged into it "which I neverwant".

"Keeping all this in view and taking into account all the factors and in consultation with legal experts, supporters and close aides and on their advise and in the interest of thecountry I have decided to resign," Musharraf said.

"I don't need anything for me. I put my future in the hands of the people," he said, adding "I too am human and could have made some mistakes. I hope these will be pardoned because by intentions were clear." Musharraf said his supporters wanted him to continuebut the decision to resign was the need of the hour.

Describing the allegations made by the ruling coalition against him as "false and baseless" which will harm the country, he said all his decisions were taken in consultation with all stakeholders including politicians, armyand bureaucrats on board.

He also dismissed the coalition's accusation of hatching conspiracies against the government as "baseless and false" and pointed out he had ensured that the generalelection was free and fair.

In Karachi, P.P.P. workers gathered at Bilawal House, the residence of Bhuttos, and waved photos of Benazir, Zulfiqar Ali and Bilawal. They distributed sweets and firedpistols and automatic weapons in the air.

Bilawal, who arrived in Karachi shortly after Musharraf's announcement, said his party wanted an independent judciary. He said he had come to visit his mother's grave andhis trip had no link to the President's resignation.

Lahore, home town of Sharif, and other cities in Punjab province, too celebrated Musharraf's decision withpeople, including women, dancing in the streets.

Workers of politic al parties gathered at traffic interesections and in markets and distributed sweets to peoplein passing cars and buses.

In Quetta, P.P.P. workers organised a rally through the streets of the city. Men on motorcycles carried posters with pictures of Benazir Bhutto and shouted slogans. Multan witnessed celebrations with women dancing on the streets andJamaat-e-Islami workers and traders distributed sweets.

During the celebrations, some people raised slogans demanding the arrest of Musharraf and made to face charges in court. Others said the government should now act to reinstatethe deposed judges.

In the capital city, the focus of celebrations wasZardari House, the residence of the P.P.P. co-Chairman.